Fall leaf color is coming on strong this autumn. While most people think of tree leaves when it comes to fall color, some of my favorite plants to show their true colors at the end of the season are not trees, but rather shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, and vines. Sure, the trees get all the press. I mean there’s nobody tracking the changes of Witch Hobble (Viburnum lantanoides), Broomsedge (Anatherum virginicum), Indian Cucumber (Mediola virginica), or Pipevine (Isotrema macrophyllum) like they do Maple (Acer spp.) and Oaks (Quercus spp.) trees.
One of the first plants to put on their colorful fall coats to light up the forests at the start of autumn are the beautiful leaves of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). This native vine has five leaflets on most every leaf. This arrangement, known botanically as palmately compound due the resemblance to an open hand, is reflected in the specific epithet “quinquefolia” which directly translates into “five leaves.”
My wonderful botany buddy, Rebecca Fanning, of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, has begun using a different common name for this species. She doesn’t like the connotation of the term “creep” and is so tired of dealing with so many creeps in the world that she has given this gorgeous species the new name of Scarlet Star, and I am here to celebrate that name.
This species often gets confused for Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) due to its vining nature and because they share habitat. Where the Scarlet Star has five leaflets, Sister Ivy, as many are suggesting we call Poison Ivy to help end the demonization of this important native plant species, has only three leaflets per leaf.
People also think that Scarlet Star is toxic like Sister Ivy. While there are individual and personal allergies to many different things in the environment and some people react to the sap of Scarlet star, it is far less allergenic and far fewer people are affected by it than the similar Sister Ivy.
In Autumn, the Scarlet Star really lights up. The leaves turn a color ranging from a deep maroon to a vivid bright red. As Scarlet Star tends to grow along tree trunks and doesn’t stick out from the trunk like Sister Ivy, this can make for some striking coloration, like in the featured photo, where the yellowing leaves of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) contrast the red clinging to the trunk.
If you’re lucky enough to see the dark blue fruits that are borne on red stalks, the beauty of the Scarlet Star is enhanced. These berries are sought after by birds, squirrels, chipmunks, opossums, and other mammals. Multiple species of Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae), i.e. caterpillars, use Scarlet Star as a host and nursery to raise their babies. When this plant is in bloom, it sounds like a machine, as its blooms are filled with bumble bees (Bombus spp.) gathering the copious and nutritious nectar.
In a continuing cultural disdain for things close and familiar and an enjoyment of the exotic, people tend to dislike the Scarlet Star and treat it as a weed. The irony is as thick as the growth of English Ivy (Hedera helix) on a brick wall. See, in Virginia (and other parts of the United States), people like to grow English Ivy up the walls of their homes. This problematic plant causes damage as it climbs using aerial roots that grow into what they climb, including grout in bricks.
English Ivy is native to England, but people there like to grow Virginia Creeper to climb up their fancy manor houses and castles. They get a better deal in England, as the Scarlet Star is a gentle climber, using suction cups at the end of each tendril. Plus, in the winter, when you want the sun hitting your home, the leaves are off the deciduous Scarlet Star, and you get that incredible red color during the turning of the autumn season.
Look for Scarlet Star growing in the woods near you this fall and celebrate its vivid color, gentle climbing, and exceptional function in the ecosystem. And maybe plant some to creep up your stately manor home.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)